# Human test subjects-chemical/biological agents **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-test-subjects-chemical-biological-agents/742432 "2016-01-07T19:45:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jakesteele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-test-subjects-chemical-biological-agents/742432/1 "2016-01-07T19:45:25Z")
50 U.S. Code § 1520a - Restrictions on use of human subjects for testing of chemical or biological agents I’m pretty sure most people here are aware of the above law which appears to be saying something to the effect that "We are NOW putting restrictions on using U.S. citizens as (lab rats, guinea pigs?) from what were previously doing (with unrestricted use of said subjects?). I’m trying to find out what the previous law(s) were that allowed for unrestricted use of citizens was. The Govt. does have a long history of using, unwittingly and unaware, U.S. citizens as guinea pigs and lab rats very often with deleterious effects. Was there any prior laws policies on the books that allowed for much wider use that is now allowed? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-test-subjects-chemical-biological-agents/742432/2 "2016-01-07T20:06:17Z")
In general so long as there is no law against something it is presumed to be legal. Although I would think testing chemical/biological weapons on someone would be covered by other laws sort of like if a gun manufacturer tried to “test” their weapons on human subjects. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-test-subjects-chemical-biological-agents/742432/3 "2016-01-07T20:42:09Z")
> [@jakesteele](#): > > 50 U.S. Code § 1520a - Restrictions on use of human subjects for testing of chemical or biological agents > > I’m pretty sure most people here are aware of the above law which appears to be saying something to the effect that "We are NOW putting restrictions on using U.S. citizens as (lab rats, guinea pigs?) from what were previously doing (with unrestricted use of said subjects?). > > I’m trying to find out what the previous law(s) were that allowed for unrestricted use of citizens was. > > The Govt. does have a long history of using, unwittingly and unaware, U.S. citizens as guinea pigs and lab rats very often with deleterious effects. Was there any prior laws policies on the books that allowed for much wider use that is now allowed? The previous law was repealed in 1997 (and had been implemented in 1977). Some discussion here (especially as it relates to the chemtrails conspiracy theory) [https://www.metabunk.org/why-was-the-us-code-changed-to-make-human-experimentation-illegal-chemtrails.t1108/](https://www.metabunk.org/why-was-the-us-code-changed-to-make-human-experimentation-illegal-chemtrails.t1108/) There is some speculation it was related to experiments during the Gulf War that had been uncovered. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-test-subjects-chemical-biological-agents/742432/4 "2016-01-07T21:10:34Z")
Well, I’ve never heard of it before. It seems to impose a general prohibition on using civilian test subjects without their consent. 50 USC 1520a replaced a set of restrictions that were codified in 50 USC 1520. The earlier restrictions didn’t require individuals to consent to the testing but rather allowed the tests to be conducted if Congress and local government officials received 30 days’ notice. The earlier restrictions, reproduced below, were adopted in 1977. > [@](#): > > § 1520. Use of human subjects for testing of chemical or biological agents by Department of Defense; accounting to Congressional committees with respect to experiments and studies; notification of local civilian officials > (a) Not later than thirty days after final approval within the Department of Defense of plans for any experiment or study to be conducted by the Department of Defense, whether directly or under contract, involving the use of human subjects for the testing of chemical or biological agents, the Secretary of Defense shall supply the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives with a full accounting of such plans for such experiment or study, and such experiment or study may then be conducted only after the expiration of the thirty-day period beginning on the date such accounting is received by such committees. > (b)(1) The Secretary of Defense may not conduct any test or experiment involving the use of any chemical or biological agent on civilian populations unless local civilian officials in the area in which the test or experiment is to be conducted are notified in advance of such test or experiment, and such test or experiment may then be conducted only after the expiration of the thirty-day period beginning on the date of such notification. > (2) Paragraph (1) shall apply to tests and experiments conducted by Department of Defense personnel and tests and experiments conducted on behalf of the Department of Defense by contractors. I haven’t looked into what prompted the change. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-test-subjects-chemical-biological-agents/742432/5 "2016-01-07T21:25:45Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > In general so long as there is no law against something it is presumed to be legal… In a democracy, if it is not prohibited, it is permitted. In a dictatorship, if it is not prohibited, it is compulsory. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-test-subjects-chemical-biological-agents/742432/6 "2016-01-08T00:09:10Z")
> **[Edgewood Arsenal human experiments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgewood_Arsenal_human_experiments)** > > From 1948 to 1975, the U.S. Army Chemical Corps conducted classified human subject research at the Edgewood Arsenal facility in Maryland. The purpose was to evaluate the impact of low-dose chemical warfare agents on military personnel and to test protective clothing, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines. A small portion of these studies were directed at psychochemical warfare and grouped under the prosaic title of the "Medical Research Volunteer Program" (1956–1975). The MRVP was also driven by intellig...